Faithful One-a-Day Thursday 1/9/20

A life worthy

Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior (Psalm 27:9).

Because I know what I deserve.

I deserve, frankly, to be rejected, forsaken, turned away. I have done nothing, no thing, that would earn me the right to call on God for help. On the contrary, I have done eversomuch to earn God’s rejection.

But…he loves me.

I know, right?

He loves me, and he has been there for me in the past, and he calls me to call on him and he promises to be faithful.

And I do.

And he is.

And Hallelujah!

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Seek His Face One-a-Day Wednesday 1/8/20

A life worthy

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek (Psalm 27:8).

It’s simple, really.

Your heart knows.

Be careful, Beloved. I don’t think David is talking about his emotions when he talks about his heart. We all know that trusting and following our emotions can bring on a whole world of pain and embarrassment and regret.

I mean, I remember a time when…

never mind.

But the heart is deeper than that. You’ve gotta get past the emotions that throw you around like the proverbial storm-tossed ship. You have to move beyond all the turmoil to get to the still place, the quiet place, the place where life becomes very simple indeed:

Know God.

Seek his face.

Remember who he is.

In this Psalm, David was under attack, and there was no simple way to fight back. His response, and his advice to us today…

seek his face.

Shall we?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Hear Me One-a-Day Tuesday 1/7/20

A life worthy

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me (Psalm 27:7).

You know what I like about David?

He’s human.

I mean, look at him. He just finished declaring that Almighty God will–not may, but will–keep David safe and enable him to stand tall over his enemies.

Yesterday David was shouting and singing.

Today he whispers, “Oh, please, Father, be there.”

That is so utterly, wholly, completely human.

So…me.

God rejoices in our strength, Beloved.

He rejoices in our weakness.

He rejoices every time our hearts turn to him.

So turn your heart to Him today, this moment, right now. Whether it’s in triumph or tragedy or temptation or fear or frustration or failure turn to him and let him hold you up.

It’s the only way to bring glory to God

and peace to your heart.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Sing One-a-Day Monday 1/6/20

A life worthy

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord (Psalm 27:6).

Sing

Sing a song

Sing out loud

Sing out–

sorry.

Are you feeling all ‘70s, now?

Sorry again.

You know, there’s wisdom in that little ditty from the land of bell-bottoms and grooviosity. That Sesame Street advice is spot-on.

Sing your song.

Don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing…

God has saved you from unimaginable yuck, my friend, and he’s just getting started. Sing his praises today, loud and long, in any combination of keys you can manage. He’s worth it, ya?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Safe One-a-Day Friday 1/3/20

A life worthy

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5).

Trouble’s coming.

I don’t know when

or where

or how

but I know it’s coming.

Because, you know…life.

I also know this–

You are safe.

He–the Lord of the Universe, Maker of Time and Space and Stuff–he’s got you.

David tells us that God will keep us safe in his dwelling, his tabernacle. Basically his house. And that image makes sense. If I want to protect something or someone, I can bring them into my home where there are doors to lock and alarms to set.  In the New Testament, Paul goes one better. Paul told the Colossians that our lives are hidden in God himself.

Not in his home.

In Him.

Frankly, I don’t understand how any of this really works.

But I’ll take it.

Beloved, I hope that today is not your day of trouble. I wish you a day of sunshine and puppies and chocolate.

But if trouble comes…

You are safe.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

To Be With Him One-a-Day Thursday 1/2/20

A life worthy

One thing I ask of the Lord; this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).

Just to be with God.  Do you ever want that?  Do you ever have those moments when you get past wanting from God and just want God?

I have to admit; for me, those moments are too few and too far between.

But then, the New Year is about fresh starts and making changes, isn’t it?

How many things are you asking God for in 2020, Beloved?

How about just one?

This one.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

New Year One-a-Day Wednesday 1/1/20

A life worthy

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

New day

New year

New you

We serve a God of second chances and new beginnings.  No matter what 2019 looked like, it is over. Today you begin again. If last year was one of triumph, great—remember and rejoice,

but don’t live there.

Press on.

If last year was one of failure, or pain, or loss—praise God for this new beginning.

The image in my head this morning is of the land after a snowfall, when nothing has yet touched the surface of the snow.  It is fresh, clean, and waiting.

So…go make snow angels.

Happy 2020, Beloved of Christ.

What Fear? One-a-Day Tuesday 12/31/19

A life worthy

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  (Psalm 27:1)

We are coming up on the New Year.  When you think about it, it’s just an arbitrary date on an imaginary calendar.  I mean, it’s not like tomorrow is going to look different from today.  Sky will still be blue, grass will still be green, gravity should remain fairly constant.

Still…

We look at the New Year as a time to start fresh, to begin (or re-begin) new things.  We wonder about the future and what it will hold for us. What opportunities await us in the coming year? What challenges?  What treasures lie in our paths, and what monsters lie in wait? It can be an exciting time—and a scary time.

As you gird your loins for January 1, ask yourself the same question David asks: With God as my light, my life, my protector, what can possibly frighten me?

Happy endof2019, Beloved.

Big Government One-a-Day Monday 12/30/19

A life worthy

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:7)  

I’m not really a fan of big government.  More of a low taxes, leavemealoneandlletmelivemylifewithoutyouconstantlytellingmewhattodoandtryingtoprotectmefrommyself kind of guy.

But His government?  Let it grow, baby.

You know, the best form of government would be a truly benevolent dictatorship.  We get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining their own pockets.  

The problem, of course, is that people are people.

Because even the best of men and women tend to be sin-encrusted narcissists, that kind of rule is just not possible.

Outside of Christ.

One day Jesus will rule here on Earth, in the flesh.  We will get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining his own pockets. His reign will go on and on and just get better and better.

Until that day, we can know his government in our hearts and lives.

If you belong to Jesus, his peace and power and rule in your life are growing each day.  Oh, you may not feel it all the time, but it’s happening.

Chew on this today: are you allowing Christ to govern your life, or are you getting in his way?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Prince of Peace One-a-Day Friday 12/27/19

A life worthy

Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

We know him by many names.

Jesus Christ

Alpha

Omega

Emmanuel

Lamb of God

Mighty God

Light of the World

The Bright Morning Star

Wonderful Counselor

The Amen

Man of Sorrows

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

The Word

The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Bread of Life

Living Water

Prince of Peace

I Am

God calls him by another name, the name which is above all names.

Son.

And here’s something really crazy.  Because of Christ’s sacrifice, do you know what God now calls us?

Yes, you do.

How can that be?  What can that mean?

Chew on that today.

Happy Friday, Beloved